Headgear suspension system

Abstract

A selectable plurality of removable pads are placed one on top of another re and aft between a rigid helmet and an inner flexible helmet for fitting and suspending a single size of the rigid helmet to varying head contours. The pads are comprised of ventilated spacer material having attached on opposing surfaces thereof mating fastening elements for securing the pads both to each other and between the rigid and flexible helmets. The pads provide for ventilation and cooling and stabilize the rigid helmet on the head.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A headgear suspension system for adaptively fitting a rigid helmet having a predetermined contour to a plurality of differing head contours, comprising, in combination: a flexible helmet adapted to fit relatively closely to respective ones of the plurality of head contours;   a plurality of discrete corrugated spacers formed in two stacks, each of said stacks having at least two elongated spacer strips positioned parallel to a line drawn between the ears of the head and operatively secured front and rear on the cranial roof thereof and adapted to be disposed intermediate said flexible helmet and the rigid helmet for ventilating and selectively varying the space between said flexible helmet and the rigid helmet to cause the rigid helmet to adaptively fit differing ones of the head contours; and   pressure actuatable interengageable securing means formed to be attached on the inside of the rigid helmet and attached on the outside of said flexible helmet and on respective ones of said spacers for stabilizing the position of the rigid helmet relative to said flexible helmet and respective ones of the head contours and for inhibiting relative movement between said helmets.   
     
     
       2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said securing means are attached to each of said elongated spacer strips intermediate and near the ends thereof. 
     
     
       3. A headgear suspension system for adaptively fitting a plurality of differing head contours, comprising, in combination: a flexible helmet adapted to fit relatively closely to respective ones of the plurality of head contours;   a rigid helmet having a predetermined contour and disposed outwardly of and extending over said flexible helmet;   a plurality of discrete corrugated spacers formed in two stacks, each of said stacks having at least two elongated spacer strips positioned parallel to a line drawn between the ears of the head and operatively secured front and rear on the cranial roof thereof and disposed intermediate said helmets for ventilating and selectively varying the space between said helmets to cause said rigid helmet to adaptively fit differing ones of the head contours; and   pressure actuatable interengageable securing means attached on the inside of said rigid helmet, the outside of said flexible helmet and on respective ones of said spacers for stabilizing the position of said rigid helmet relative to said flexible helmet and respective ones of the head contours and for inhibiting relative movement between said helmets.   
     
     
       4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said securing means are attached to each of said elongated spacer strips near and intermediate the ends thereof. 
     
     
       5. A headgear suspension system for adaptively fitting a plurality of differing head contours, comprising, in combination: a flexible helmet adapted to fit relatively closely to respective ones of the plurality of head contours;   a rigid helmet having a predetermined contour and disposed outwardly of and extending over said flexible helmet; and   a least one stack of spacers disposed intermediate said helmets and extending over selected portions of the cranial roof of respective ones of the head contours, each of said stacks comprising one or more layers of said spacers registeringly attached to adjacent spacers or to selected portions of said helmets for selectively varying the space between said helmets and for inhibiting relative movement therebetween and to cause said rigid helmet to adaptively fit differing ones of the head contours.